Isolation and identification of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi from dent corn

Abstract: In this study, we sought endophytic entomopathogenic fungi from dent corn, whichhave potential to be developed as endophytic biopesticide with multiple roles. Dent corn samplesapplied to this study were collected at three locations of East Hokkaido island. Each plant samplewas divided into root, stem, leaf and kernel, and then these were surface-sterilized by 70%ethanol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite. Pieces of each tissue were placed on entomopathogenicfungi selective medium. All fungal isolates growing on this plate were transferred onto potatodextrose agar. Morphological identification to genus level was conducted by slide culture methodby observing under light microscope (x100). In total, 2252 fungal isolates (greater part of isolateswere Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium spp.) were detected on selective medium, and amongthem, 168 isolates were entomogenous fungi. Five genera of entomopathogenic fungi includingBeauveria, Lecanicillium, Isaria, Metarhizium and Simplicillium were detected in this study. Inthis study, only five plant samples were applied, but entomopathogenic fungi were detected fromall locations and at all parts of plant tissue. Moreover, it is indicated that endophyticentomopathogenic fungi multiply colonize in the plant body. Although, Beauveria, Lecanicillium,Isaria and Metarhizium showed tendency to localize to some plant part, Simplicillium tended tobe ubiquitous presence in plant body. Our result can indicate that entomopathogenic fungiuniversally colonize into dent corn.